Chapter 2

Lily was practically shaking all over when she awoke from the train ride to find they had just arrived at Kings Cross. Lynsay knew how happy Lily was to finally be seeing Peyton, she was sad she couldn't meet her but Lynsay and her family were leaving straight away for Egypt by portkey as soon as she got off the train. Lily and Lynsay hugged before they went to say goodbye to the Marauders. Lynsay was good friends with all four and Lily had a close bond with Sirius and Remus. Although Sirius sometimes agitated her along with James. Lynsay hugged each Marauder and wished them a happy summer and Lily was in such a good mood she hugged all four of them too, twice.

"Wow someone's in a good mood." Sirius said noticing the happy expression on her face.

"Well yeah my best friend since I was born is meeting me over by platform 11. I'm so excited! Her and her family has come from America to stay with us this summer." Lily bursted out excitedly.

"Ooh American babes..." Sirius said with a kind of far away look in his eyes.

"Haha yeah Siri she's great...I'll invite you all over this summer to meet her ok?" Lily said with a hopeful look in her eyes. "Maybe you can floo in for a couple of days from Egypt ok Lyn?" noticing her friends sad expression on missing out on the phone.

"Okay!" Lynsay said.

"Umm...even me Evans?" James said a little tentatively.

"Well lets see, yes Potter even you. On a few conditions that I will owl you about at a later time." Lily said.

"Great, thanks Evans." James said sincerely to her for once. She smiled at him. Wow Lily Evans just smiled at James Potter intentionally. All of her friends must have thought this friend had to be something really special.

"I'll owl you all about the plans soon ok? I've got to go!" Lily said while practically skipping through the platform. She raced to platform 11 and saw Peyton's back to her. Lily ran and tackled her from behind.

"OOF WHO ARE YOU?!" shouted the person Lily had tackled. "Gerrof me!"

"Oh my gosh I'm so so sorry please forgive me I thought you were one of my friends I hadn't seen in a very long time." Lily gushed fully embarrassed. The woman looked very harassed and walked briskly away muttering about insane children. Laughter echoed about four feet away from a thoroughly embarrassed Lily and she turned to find Peyton lying on the ground clutching her stomach.

"Oh you..." Lily started before running and jumping on her, smothering her in a hug.

"I missed you too Lily but that is no reason for you to be attacking innocent women." Peyton said in a mother like voice.

"I thought she was you! It was an innocent mistake!" Lily said giggling. "Things like that always happen to me so I'm kinda used to it by now though"

"Hullo Callista, good to see you again Caden." Lily said to Peyton's mum and dad embracing them in a hug. They were her godparents as were Lily's parents to Peyton.

"Lovely to see you again too Lily dear. You've all grown up since I saw you last." Callista Starr said with a few tears in her eyes.

"The girls are just growing up so fast. You all really ought to move back here before we miss out even more on each others families. We all miss you dreadfully." Meredith Evans said with a few tears in her own eyes.

"Well we actually have some good news for you all that we can announce once we get back to the house Meredith." Caden Starr said.

"Alright then let's get going then!" Lily announced leading the way to the Evan's SUV parked outside.

They drove for about two hours to the Evan's large estate in the country outside of London. They had their own lake and swimming pool and Lily loved her home more than any other place in the world since she shared so many wonderful memories with her family and Peyton and her family there. When Lily and Peyton opened the door they were knocked to the ground by Shaylee, Peyton's four year old sister, and Madison, Lily's four year old sister.

"Hey munchkins! I missed you guys." Lily said squeezing them. Lily and Peyton had a lot of tolerance for their two younger sisters, whom they cared very deeply for. Petunia, Lily's older sister, on the other hand was not on their favorite persons list.

"Well if it isn't the little freak arriving home for the summer. Good now the two little brats are your problem because I have to go get ready to meet my Vernie for dinner. Tonight's our three month anniversary." Petunia said harshly to Lily. Shaylee and Madison had most likely given Petunia a hard time while the adults had gone to pick up Lily, as they didn't care too much for Petunia's attitude either.

"They aren't brats Tunia and Lily isn't a freak." Peyton said through clenched teeth. If there was one thing she couldn't stand more than people hurting her little sister and Madison it was someone hurting Lily, emotionally or physically, they would have to deal with Peyton. Which was not a good thing at all. "Go get ready and leave us alone Tunia."she said with a glare.

"Humph" Petunia sputtered indignantly and headed upstairs to get ready for her date with Vernon Dursley, high school dropout and drill extraordinaire.

"Lils it's great to finally be back with you. I've missed you so much. You look gorgeous as always." Peyton said picking up Madison.

"Thanks Pey... I've missed you a great deal too. You look so beautiful...truly grown up now even though your only 16." Lily said while grabbing Shaylee.

"My dad says he has a great surprise for us all so let's go to the den and find out shall we?" Peyton suggested. Lily nodded and followed.

"Ok now that everyone is here." Caden began "Everyone... we are moving back home... to be here with you all."

"Really dad? That's wonderful! Finally after all these years." Peyton said excitedly.

"Oh I can't wait Peyton this is going to be just like old times... except... where will you be going to school?" Lily questioned, feeling her heart sink into her stomach knowing that Peyton could never attend Hogwarts.

"Well...umm Lily you see-"Peyton started off, looking at her parents for support, who nodded encouragingly "I'm a witch Lily and I've been studying magic at an American school, and you probably think I'm nutters right now but you just have to believe me Lily! Please don't think I'm some kind of freak cause I wouldn't want to lose you as a friend and-"

"Whoa there." Lily cut her off. Peyton stared at her hopefully. "After all these years we've been hiding the same secret from one another in fear that the other would think we were freaks." Lily giggled.

"What are you going on about?" Peyton questioned with a funny look on her face.

Lily began telling Peyton and her family about attending Hogwarts and how she and her family were afraid of telling Peyton's family about Lily being a witch because they didn't want to ruin their friendship. Turns out Peyton's parents had been keeping their magic a secret from the Evan's their entire life. Sometimes it was a little unbearable having to make sure they didn't slip up a few times around them and Mr. Starr was called to America by the Ministry of Magic before Lily got her letter to Hogwarts. Everyone laughed but felt a sort of pang at their hearts knowing all this time they could have been so much closer than they already were, but it didn't matter now that they all knew each others secret. The two families celebrated the entire night making plans for moving into their old house next to the Evan's estate and transferring Peyton to Hogwarts. Lily couldn't even begin to explain the immeasurable feeling in her heart. It felt like it was about to burst. It was one of the best days of her life falling asleep next to her friend and finally falling into a peaceful slumber.